Since becoming vegan, I’ve listened to many thought-provoking and poignant animal rights speeches on YouTube. But there are really only a handful that have stuck with me throughout the years and that I keep returning to to watch or listen to again and again. I know I’m not alone, because they’re some of the animal rights and vegan talks with the most views on YouTube. So what is it about these speeches in particular that …

One of the things I love in theory about Mark Bittman’s pasta recipes in the New York Times is that they’re super-simple and yet they also use unique combinations of ingredients that make the dish creative and unexpected. Unfortunately, they also rely heavily on dairy – cream, butter, and cheese.

The good thing is that there are vegan alternatives to every dairy product. So when my mom told that she was making this recipe for …

People are finally waking up to the fact that vegan food is not doomed to be bland and boring, but can instead be delicious and exciting. An example of this phenomenon is vegan lunch spots which have proliferated over the years, commanding the attention of begrudging meat-eaters and making life easier for us vegans.

In my last post, I shared my vegan favorite places for dining out in NYC. Below are my favorite vegan …

A lot has changed in the New York City vegan scene in recent years. Some of my favorite vegan restaurants such as V-Note, Gobo, and Pure Food & Wine closed due to the high cost of organic food, rising real estate prices in Manhattan, and other circumstances.

It was definitely sad to hear that these restaurants closed, especially since the food and atmosphere they had were so great, and I have many fond memories of …

My diet is mainly macrobiotic, meaning that I eat lots of cooked seasonal vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. Back when I initially experimented with various vegan ways of preparing and eating food, I did try going raw because it seemed like a potentially healthier lifestyle. This phase did not last very long, because I found that especially when the weather gets cold here in the northern hemisphere, I need warming, grounding foods to feel balanced …

As humans, we usually accept as a given that we can eat just about anything, and therefore we are omnivores.

However, when you compare the teeth and digestive systems carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores, what emerges is the truth that, anatomically and physiologically, we share little in common with carnivores and omnivores, and that we in fact have the classic characteristics of herbivores.

In this post we will delve deep into the controversial topic of omnivore …

So many amazing documentaries are coming out all the time about vegan diets, animal welfare, and the environment. In my previous post about documentaries Must-Watch Documentaries, I listed some of the absolute must-see films about these topics.

But there are many more documentaries that I consider to be essential viewing. So if you’ve watched Forks Over Knives, Eating, Earthlings, Blackfish, Cowspiracy, etc. definitely move on to these ones.

This fresh, filling, and delicious chia seed pudding is unlike most breakfast recipes in that you prepare it the night before, and it only takes 5 minutes to make. It’s also rich in beneficial nutrients. Coconut milk is high in medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), fatty acids which counterintuitively boost our metabolism. It also has a very creamy texture. Chia seeds – often touted as superfoods – are packed with fiber, protein, and omega-3’s, in addition to …

Have you ever paused to consider the fact that not only are we humans the only species to consume milk into adulthood, but that we’re the only species to ingest the milk of another species? Most people haven’t, and indeed I myself never contemplated the absurdity of this fact until after I became vegan.

The dairy industry doesn’t want you to think about how completely unnatural it is for humans to drink the milk of …

Chickpea flour omelets are one of my very favorite breakfast recipes.They’re super-easy to make; high in protein, fiber, and iron; and delicious when combined with the right ingredients.

This particular chickpea flour concoction is inspired by an omelet I loved at a diner my mom and I used to go to all the time when I was younger. The diner’s still there but I don’t go anymore, because they don’t have much veg-friendly fare. Luckily, …

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Welcome to Livin’ on the Veg!

I'm Olivia. The vegan lifestyle has powerful implications for our health, the environment, and the beings we share this planet with. However, for many people the idea of giving up animal products seems too daunting. This blog aims to lay out both the practical and philosophical aspects of vegan living, and to make it more accessible to those who are veg curious. I also share my insights, reflections, and experiences around being part of a fringe movement during this unique time in human history.